MEPs Launch Bid To Protect Haggis

A BID has been launched to keep haggis Scottish.

A group of Scots MEPs want to use European rules to protect our national dish from inferior copies.

If they succeed, the delicacy will be known as Scotch or Scottish haggis - and it will will have to be produced here.

The cross-party group of MEPs are calling for haggis to be protected under EU regulations that already cover Scotch whisky, beef and lamb.

Nationalist MEP Alyn Smith said: "Haggis is a great, healthy, quality product and should be protected and promoted.

"Several other Scots foods have won protection by the EU rules and there is no question haggis could do the same.

"The time is right for EU designation to protect what's ours."

The MEPs want haggis to be covered by a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).

PGIs identify products as originating in a particular area "where a given quality, reputation, or other characteristic of the good is essentially attributable to its geographical origin".

Uel Morton, of Quality Meat Scotland, said: "The PGIs for Scotch beef and lamb are invaluable in the drive to differentiate our quality products, with a proud history and tradition, in an increasingly crowded consumer marketplace."